Before I begin this week’s plunge into life in Lesotho, I really want to thank all of you who have sent packages or letters or emails. Little and big (in reference to Aunt Min’s reply to my current knitting obsession and Wayne and Donna’s kind shipment of Splenda, Luna Bars, and hair dye) gestures like that really do help and are greatly appreciated.
So back to the recap on the week. I guess most days I feel like nothing much goes on here in ole’ Lesotho, but in all honesty each day brings new things to deal with or enjoy. One of the most enjoyable things going on is that (and this is just how lame I am) they have begun reading “The Great Gatsby” on the BBC everyday at 9:30 am and at 1:30pm. Not only do I schedule my day around it but I tune into both readings, which are the same. I really never thought I would be so consumed by it, but it is either because of lack of other entertaining stimulation or it really is just that good of a book. I don’t really know and not too concerned about it. I am also giving an approximately 5 hour presentation on nutrition on Monday, I say approximately because last week I gave a presentation that was supposed to last an hour that lasted for 4 hours and so I’m giving myself a 2 hour deviation in either direction. I’ll have to let you know how it goes.
Going along with new experiences, this next one, I think ranks up there with the condoms on the kombi and being offered a female condom. No joke. I toyed with the idea of not posting it because I may give people here a bad name or frighten my parents too much, but I can’t not post it. It is way to crazy and also every country has those weird-o’s sauntering around. So after all the build up here goes. Last Saturday I was in Maseru running some errands (I’m getting some clothes made for vacation, woo hoo!!) and had to run into the stationery supply store to get a huge flipchart for my upcoming presentation. As I am walking down the sidewalk (on what is a busy street made even busier by the fact it is Saturday) I see this obviously homeless person walking around the street, which is weird because with all the poverty here there are very few homeless people because generally if you can’t afford a home a family member will take you in. As I am walking I see this man, who is walking in front of me, just out of the blue elbows a woman in the neck. The woman was, surprising, not too disgruntled, or hurt for that matter. I think I was more affected than she was. So now I’m thinking on top of homeless this man is deranged, I mean I don’t want to pass judgment on a person I don’t know, but I think if you just elbow a woman for no apparent reason, most people would agree there’s something not right going on. So after witnessing this I jet into the shop and get this huge flipchart for my presentation, and leave the shop to go meet friends at the Peace Crops Office. As I am leaving I see the same man and trying not to pay him too much attention, I see him spit on a woman walking towards me. Now I am on my guard. Not even really thinking about it I stand a few minutes, eyes starring at this man with my mouth agape (which probably wasn’t too smart giving this man’s spitting history). He sees me, I mean I stand out being the only white person in a 50 meter radius, but he sees me starring, I recollect myself and start walking again. I see this man linger back to lean on a car and he waits for me to catch up. I catch up, unwilling to back down and thinking if this man does anything to a white woman in the middle of the day on a busy street, shit will go down, oh my naiveté. He advances towards me, which I am surprised however I shouldn’t be because these things, once again, either happen in movies or to me. I’m like “son of a bitch“, not so much that he is coming towards me but I now have to change my underwear. And I stare that man down, I mean, he is not doing squat to me without it being difficult for him. Then my street smart brain kicks in and I begin to wield my flipchart, ready to divert any unfriendly advances, which is tightly rolled into a sturdy cylinder. He is now rethinking his advances and, thank God, retreats. All the Basotho around me are now laughing. But I don’t give a damn, partly because I am in shock as to what just happened and partly because I’m thinking in my head I saw two Basotho take it from this man and the white chick stood up for herself. Take that. So that’s harrowing experience number three. Right now I’m averaging one a month since I came to site. And to be honest, I think those numbers aren’t too bad.
So that having been dealt with, the other things going on are the usual. I hate to admit this as the usual, but I keep finding out that more people that I know are turning out to be positive for HIV, which sucks, but on the upside I find that many are seeking help and that they are taking care of themselves. This is most definitely the hardest part. I get to know a person and become friends with them only to find out later that they are positive, but by being social with HIV positive persons in public helps to decrease stigma, and most of the remarkable people I have met here have been positive. So while it sucks to find this out, a few inspiring stories erupt, making up for some the sorrow that goes along with the disease. This is just another part of the new experiences for everyday life here, although I find it very interesting to observe how positive people here live and it is from this that I will really be given insight into life here. With that downer and the crazy story previous to counter it, I will leave you. Hopefully I will get my pictures from my Botha-Bothe trip up soon. Have a fantastic week and this week I read Vogue and would kill for a shopping mall/Bread Co./Walgreens/and especially Target in specific the kind that have the Starbucks attached. Oh listen to me and my deprivation of commercial America. If they could just get a Target in Lesotho!!! I think I will write a letter. Adios!! Or well I guess I should start using some Sesotho and leave you with a Salang Hantle! (Stay Well!)
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